Accomplishments needed

Let's get real. Sen. Rand Paul is an eye surgeon with barely three years' political experience. He would not even be in the Senate were it not for his famous, quirky father. Now with his meager experience, he is already considering a run for president. Do we really want as president someone who hires a man who is still fighting the wars of two centuries ago? We surely will decline as a nation if we tolerate mere fame as a qualification for leadership.

Name one accomplishment of Rand Paul other than having held a gazillion press conferences. If Sen. Paul really wants to be president, he would be quiet and attend some committee meetings where he could learn how to solve immigration, tax and other critical problems. Please, Iowa and New Hampshire, nip this one in the bud! The Courier-Journal should also stop talking about Rand Paul running for president until he gets as least one minor accomplishment under his belt.

DON STOSBERG

Frankfort, Ky. 40601 -

Quote's truth

Regarding the quote that may or may not be attributed to Mr. Twain, "When the end of the world comes, I want to be in Kentucky, because it's always 20 years behind the times," surely it was from someone who knew Kentucky very well. Just look at the time it has taken to build a bridge across the Ohio River.

JEAN JAKAB

Georgetown, Ind. 47122 -

Legislative descriptions

Nick Anderson's editorial cartoon in the Monday Courier-Journal caught my attention. Mr. Anderson lays the blame for the "train wreck" description for Obamacare on the "Right Wing." Evidently Mr. Anderson completely missed the initial use of the term back in mid-April when it was spoken by one of the original authors of the Affordable Care Act, Sen. Max Baucus (D-Mont). Or could it be that Mr. Anderson has gone so far left that he now sees Mr. Baucus as a member of the right wing?

AL BEDEL

Louisville 40291 -

Tour de France

It is understandable that the British Open takes editorial precedence over the Tour de France, but to relegate the story of the winner of the Tour de France to page C6 below the fold in Monday's sports pages was just lame. The Tour de France is one the world's greatest sporting events and this year marked its 100th anniversary. This 21-day race through the mountains and plains of France is one of the most brutally demanding athletic events on the planet. C'mon, sports page editors, there are sports besides basketball, football, baseball and golf.

SLOANE GRAFF

Louisville 40207 -

Impact on workers

In regard to the tolls on the bridges, your article on July 22 read: "Impact on poor, minorities is focus." I'm sorry, but as a hard-working white woman, I find that more than a bit offensive!

There are plenty of minorities in this community who have bigger bank accounts than I do. There are lots of doctors, lawyers, engineers, business owners, etc. who are black, Hispanic/Latino, from India, Philippines, or wherever, who make more money than my husband and/or myself. So I don't think the Louisville Metro Council members should be worrying about the minorities.

And there are plenty of "poor" people out there living better than I do because they know how to work the system and get government handouts at every turn. Perhaps what Metro Council really needs to focus on are the working stiffs who put in 40 or more hours a week, many working multiple jobs, and manage to eke out a living without help from the government, regardless of their skin color or ethnic background.